Liquid crystalline polyurethane. Polyurethanes containing bis-(p-oxymethylphenyl) terephthalate

Several polyurethanes based on bis-(p-oxymethylphenyl) terephthalate (BOPT) were synthesized and studied with respect to some of their thermal properties. BOPT exhibits a mesomorphic phase at 252–264°C. Polymerization was carried out by equimolar reaction with hexamethyl-ene diisocyanate (HDI), 4,4-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (H₁₂MDI) α,α'-diisocyanate-1,3-dimethylcyclohexane (H6 XDI), 4,4′-diphenylmeth-ane diisocyanate (MDI), 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate (TDI), and phenylene diisocyanate (PDI). It became clear that polyurethanes obtained from BOPT with HDI, H₁₂MDI, H₆XDI, and TDI have mesomorphic phases at 243–291, 214–250, 172–229, and 180–234°C, respectively, as determined by DSC and polarized microscopy, and that all polyurethanes are crystalline as evidenced by x-ray diffraction.     

Highly oriented growth of titanate nanotubes (TNTs) in micro and confinement spaces on sol–gel derived amorphous TiO2 thin films under moderate hydrothermal condition

Synthesis of titanate nanotubes (TNTs) from sol–gel derived amorphous TiO₂ thin films under moderate hydrothermal condition has been reported. TNTs from film possess a tubular morphology that is the same crystalline phase as one synthesized from TiO₂ powder so far. TNTs obtained in this study are not entangled one another but oriented and isolated on the substrate. Growth of highly oriented TNTs is observed in micro grooves of amorphous TiO₂ thin film. Their orientation is also maintained with the growth of TNTs.     

Ultrasonic-Combined Plasma Bubbling for Adherent Bacteria Disinfection on Medical Equipment

Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing - Atmospheric low-temperature plasma has received attention for application in disinfection methods. In this study, we develop a plasma bubbling method as a...     

Second-harmonic-generation microscope using eight-segment polarization-mode converter to observe three-dimensional molecular orientation

We developed a compact polarization-mode converter for microscopy to control three-dimensional polarization at the focus. The converter consisted of two homogeneously aligned liquid-crystal spatial light modulators with eight independently controllable electrodes (segments), and a quarter-waveplate. The converter converted a linearly polarized beam to three polarization modes: two orthogonal linear polarizations and a pseudo-radial polarization. We applied the converter to second-harmonic-generation microscopy and demonstrated the detection of three-dimensional molecular orientation.     

Structure–function relationships of the supramolecular assembly of the bacterial photosynthetic antenna complexes in lipid membranes

Appropriate experimental platforms are required to clarify the structure–function relationships of membrane protein assemblies. In photosynthetic bacteria, light-harvesting complex 2 and light-harvesting/reaction center core complex play key roles in capturing and transferring light energy and facilitating subsequent charge separation. These photosynthetic apparatuses form a supramolecular assembly in the photosynthetic membrane. However, the mechanism through which this assembly influences the efficiency of energy conversion remains to be clarified. We review our recent studies that were conducted to evaluate the structure–function relationship of the supramolecular assembly of photosynthetic antenna complexes in various lipid bilayer systems, as well as the construction of novel systems of planar lipid membranes for use as experimental platforms.     

Analysis of visual perception of light emitting diode brightness in dense fog with various droplet sizes

Road signs must provide a conspicuous signal to a wide variety of drivers over a broad range of environmental and geometric conditions. Recently, there are an increasing number of applications in which light emitting diodes (LEDs) are used as the light source, including critical transportation signaling. In the presence of fog, the resulting visual signal is disturbed due to light scattering by airborne water droplets. By measuring LED brightness with human spectral sensitivity in various densities and various droplet sizes (10, 30, 50, and 100 μm), it is understood that the particle size distribution (fog droplet size) and density of fog does affect visibility in fog. The colored LEDs that contain a yellow component had high brightness evaluation, blue component had low brightness evaluation in all densities and different droplet sizes. The result in this paper can contribute to air and land traffic safety and the prevention of accidents.